Health & Well-being

“My health to better living”

Health involves the physical, social, intellectual, mental and environmental well-being of young people. Michigan 4-H Youth Development supports and empowers individuals, families and volunteers to help young people make proactive decisions about healthy lifestyles. 4-H links decision-making skill building to current health issues such as tobacco use prevention, stress management, nutrition and fitness to teach youth:

• Healthy behaviors
• The science of human diseases
• Ways to become advocates in their communities to build healthy lifestyles

Through 4-H health programs, young people develop:

• Positive values such as responsibility and restraint
• Positive identity and self-esteem
• Social competencies such as resistance skills, stress management skills and the ability to make healthy lifestyle choices

Get Involved!

• Start a Natural Helpers program in your school, club or after-school setting.
  This peer helper program is based on the premise that within every group of teens there exists an informal “helping network.” Teens aged 13 to 19 with problems naturally seek out other teens (and adults) whom they trust. The Natural Helpers program trains those informal helpers in the skills they need to more effectively help the young people who seek them out. Since 1991, hundreds of young people and adults have participated in Natural Helpers training.
• Get involved in youth tobacco prevention.
  Michigan 4-H Youth Development offers a youth tobacco prevention curriculum called “Life’s A Kick! Don’t Start” that provides information and activities designed to encourage young people to make healthy choices about tobacco use. Check out ”Life’s a Kick! Don’t Start” to find ways you can get involved in this very important youth health issue. 

For more information on how to get involved as a youth or volunteer, contact your county MSU Extension office or

B’Onko Sadler, Associate Program Leader
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Phone: 517-432-7618